Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Massive drug bust in capital

ONE of the biggest drugs busts made in Phnom Penh so far this year took place on Friday when authorities confiscated 20 kilograms of liquid amphetamine during a raid in Chamkarmon district.

Deputy chief of Phnom Penh Municipal Police, Pen Rath, said three Vietnamese nationals were arrested on Friday after a raid on a house in Tuol Svay Prey II commune at around 7pm.

Police confiscated about 20 kilograms of amphetamine as well as drug-related paraphernalia including machines believed to be used for rolling, mixing and drying drugs. The estimated street value of the drugs was not disclosed by authorities.

Two men and one woman were arrested in connection with drug trafficking and drug-producing activities.

They were named as You Sieng Hom, 34, his 29-year-old wife Fang Thyngok, and You Tai, 21.

All three are all set to be charged at court today.

“I believe that it was the biggest drug trafficking centre to have been targeted by police this year. It is one of the biggest amounts of drugs that we had confiscated in Phnom Penh [this year],” said Pen Rath.

The haul dwarfs a previous large bust, highlighted by Pen Rath, which saw six kilograms of amphetamines and ketamine confiscated during a February raid in Meanchey district.

In March, police from the Ministry of Interior’s anti-drug unit found 80,000 yama pills and about three kilograms of methamphetamine in Russei Keo district’s Tuol Sangke commune.

At the time, Kiev Samon, acting director of the anti-drug department, said: “It is historic. We rarely [confiscate] such a large quantity of illegal drugs.”

So far this year, 512 people have been arrested and charged with drug abuse or drug trafficking offences in Phnom Penh.

In early April, a controversial edit was issued by national police chief Neth Savoeun which imposed a one-month deadline for police officials to rigorously target drug trafficking and abuse or face punishment.